[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 3]
[House]
[Pages 3178-3180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       JOB DISCRIMINATION IS AS PROFOUND AS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

  (Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, unemployment rates are too high 
in our Nation: around 9 percent nationally, and within our minority 
populations, that rate is even higher.
  Finding a job is already difficult for hundreds of thousands of 
Americans, yet a growing number of employers are excluding jobless 
applicants from consideration--making the job search nearly impossible 
for those who are unemployed.
  Companies have begun to post descriptions of vacancies including 
statements like ``unemployed applicants will not be considered'' or 
``must be currently employed,'' leaving those in the most dire need of 
a job high and dry. It's a practice that I utterly oppose. Congress 
must put an end to it.
  It reminds me of when blacks, women, and Asians were told they need 
not apply. Mr. Speaker, how on Earth can an unemployed person find a 
job if he or she is barred from applying?
  Unemployment discrimination is as profound as racial discrimination. 
This is an appalling form of discrimination that deeply harms all 
Americans, hinders companies from finding the best workers, and further 
disables our economy. It should not be tolerated in America or anywhere 
else.
  I again call on those plagued by unemployment and joblessness to send 
me their resumes and their stories to [email protected].

                           americaresumesfor

     From: Joseph Drake [[email protected]]
     Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 2:19 PM
     To: americaresumesfor
     Subject: My Resume and Story

       Dear Congress: I am 60 years old, too young to be retired, 
     too old to be unemployed. In the current economy and at my 
     age and health my chances of re-employment diminish. I wasn't 
     planning to retire early, but rather late, because of my 
     small amount of savings. Now, when I do get a job again, I 
     will have to postpone retirement even longer. I had almost no 
     contacts about employment in spite of applying for about 6 to 
     12 jobs a week since I lost my job. My economic circumstances 
     had gradually eroded so that I had to start living in a 
     rooming house.
       Since I returned to Seattle, in 1993, I have largely worked 
     in either retail or parking and had worked for Ampco Parking 
     for 13 years. I haven't had even 72 hours of work since I 
     lost my job last September, and am almost completely 
     dependent on my unemployment check. My bills are piling up. I 
     am planning to start selling my book collection and some of 
     my Videos and DVD's. I am planning to discount my landline 
     and depend solely on my cell phone.
       I have lived a diverse and interesting life. Like Obama, I 
     was once a community organizer. I organised A Tenants Union 
     in Santa Cruz, CA once, and then worked in organizing low 
     income workers and neighborhoods, helping their causes and 
     providing services. I have always been someone to volunteer, 
     stating in high school or get involved, and to think of the 
     needs of others. I volunteer at my church on movie nights, as 
     an usher, and on the Peace and Justice Committee.
       I have also been a journalist in the past. Now write two 
     blogs and do other online

[[Page 3179]]

     writing. One of the blogs is about my unemployment and life 
     in the margins of America, drawing perspective from the 
     Catholic Worker movement and the social teachings of the 
     church and the bible. My other blog is about the arts. 
     Although I have my own political and religious bias expressed 
     in my blogs, I have my non-Catholic, even non-religious 
     friends, and many conservative friends. In fact some of my 
     blog followers are conservatives to disagree with my 
     solutions, my way of interpreting the social teachings of the 
     church, but admire my concern for the poor and sympathize 
     with my situation. I will probably post a copy of this email 
     for them to read and put a link from my Facebook page to the 
     blog post.
       Now I am one of those in need, going to food banks, getting 
     my coffee at Jack in the Box for 55 cents by asking for the 
     senior discount, cutting every corner and buying only what I 
     absolutely need. I hang out in lines with desperate looking 
     characters.
       I am uninsured, as Cobra was too expensive for me when I 
     lost my job and I have what was supposed to be a sprain to 
     the finger, but which was probably X-Rayed from the wrong 
     angle, and seems like a permanent injury and deformation. 
     While I can work and use my hand, I can't type with my small 
     finger, or close it completely. Short of going back to the ER 
     and getting more unpayable bills, without benefits I have no 
     means to treat it.
       I am hanging in their with the support and prayers of a 
     great church community, my family and friends, my Facebook 
     friends and blog readers. I try to be thankful to God every 
     day for each little thing he provides me and to focus on the 
     bigger issues--like the struggles of the Egyptian people, our 
     nations problems, everyone else who is poor or unemployed. I 
     am hoping, that like the 1930's, we will end the decade as a 
     less selfish, more cooperative, more optimistic nation that 
     when we entered these hard times. I will pray for our nations 
     leaders tonight, that all of you get granted the wisdom to 
     help our suffering people.
       I have attached, saved in SkyDrive, my general purpose 
     resume. I have of course have other resumes, but my general 
     one tells my story.
           God Bless you and God Bless all the poor and 
     unemployed,
     Joseph Drake.
                                  ____


                           Americaresumesfor

     From: Heidi Burrell [[email protected]]
     Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 2:23 PM
     To: americaresumesfor

       Hello: My family and I are Jamaican immigrants and we 
     worked very hard to have the American dream. This means going 
     to school, working 2 jobs and just doing anything that's 
     legal to survive.
       I was laid off June 2009 from a big law firm in NYC as a 
     tax accountant making $70,000 a year. I applied to every job 
     out there, even jobs that were half of my salary. I love the 
     work I do, but companies are afraid to hire me for a 35-50k 
     job. I've been out of work for 2 years June 2011. I was 
     babysitting, until those parents lost their job. I've done 
     other day jobs when they are available. It's very hard when 
     you have kids to worry about.
       To the congressman that said people are taking the 
     unemployment checks and saving them . . . which planet are 
     you living on? I receive $1620 a month: mortgage for my 
     condo: $812; common charges: 371; insurance: 65, utilities 
     (phone, light, etc): 185; student loan-private (federal on 
     forbearance): 150; credit card: 235.
       Thank God I receive food stamps for my children and I 
     receive help from my ex husband (he only works for $12 per 
     hr). I was never a big spender, my credit card bill happen 
     after I purchase the condo. I cannot afford to go back to 
     school and the grants that NYC offers is suspended. I was 
     never looking to make 70k again, I just need a job that will 
     help cover my living expenses.
       Sometimes I feel that I wasted my time and energy doing the 
     right thing. Look at the people on welfare, some never 
     working a day in their life and you bust your butt working 
     hard and going to school and this is what happens. I've 
     attached my resume.
                                                            Heidi.

                             Heidi Burrell

                610 Waring ave. Apt. 1H Bronx, NY 10467

                             (917) 421-6565

                        [email protected]

     Objective
       To secure a position utilizing my experience in areas of 
     tax, clerical support and accounting.
     Education
       Pace University--New York, NY; Bachelor of Business 
     Administration 2007; Finance.
     Experience
       Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, New York, NY, Tax Accountant--
           2008-2009
       Prepared federal/state and local supporting schedules for 
     firm's annual partnership tax return.
       Managed the timely filing and payment of all sales and use 
     tax, commercial rent tax, and property tax returns.
       Analyzed and reconciled expense accounts used for tax 
     purposes.
       Managed and maintain an inventory of all records for the 
     partners.
       Researched federal/state tax law to remain in compliance 
     with current regulations.
       Performed administrative tasks such as updating tax files, 
     filing, copying, sorting mail and mailing partnership return.
       Geller and Company, New York, NY, Tax Accountant--2005-2008
       Prepared and reviewed 20 international branch supporting 
     schedules for client's tax return.
       Created and analyzed client's financial statements.
       Prepared quarterly foreign tax projections.
       Ensured the timely delivery of monthly and quarterly tax 
     payment.
       Acted as a liaison and maintained open lines of 
     communication among middle managers and international 
     accounting firms.
       Morgan Stanley, New York, NY, Accountant (Internship)--
           2003-2005
       Prepared state and local corporate tax returns, extensions 
     and estimated payments.
       Responded to state tax notices as needed.
       Utilized CorpTax software to prepare returns including 
     input, review of reports, and analyses.
       Performed administrative tasks such as updating tax files, 
     typing, filing, data entry and copying.
     Skills
       Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Office, Power Point, 
     Access), eForms, SAP, CMS, CCH.
                                  ____


                           Americaresumesfor

     From: Stephanie Demar [[email protected]]
     Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 12:43 PM
     To: americaresumesfor
     Subject: Resume and Story on Unemployment

       Hello Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.: I have been out of work for 
     over three years. I drew unemployment for 2008 and 2009. I 
     have been living with family and friends because I cannot 
     afford to live on my own. I decided to go back to school in 
     2008 when I lost my job due to a shoulder injury of an 
     unknown suspect who jumped on me outside a local Whataburger 
     Restaurant. This incident cost me my job, stability, and 
     sleepless nights since it occurred because of the intense 
     pain. I am a 33 year old Black female. I recently graduated 
     from college November 15, 2011 from Ashford University in 
     Social Science Education. I am not sure when I will get a job 
     but I have been working as a Substitute Teacher in Arlington 
     ISD here in Arlington Texas. I want to work and have been 
     searching restlessly for years. I do not know what else to do 
     but I know that I am looking for a change to come in my life 
     soon. I have attached my resume as well.
       I have recently heard that schools will be losing millions 
     of dollars here in Texas. My concerns are if I recently 
     graduated to become a teacher in Texas. Now that so much 
     money is lost for schools, how I can get a job in my field 
     and what do I tell my children that are asking me why I 
     haven't found a job yet and I graduated from college? How do 
     I tell my students at school to stay in school and go to 
     college if they are watching me diligently look for a job but 
     fail to find one because of all the loss of funds for the 
     education? There are so many teachers who do not know if they 
     are going to have a job next year. How can I think I will 
     have a job in my field if so many are going to be fired?
           Thank you,
                                              Ms. Stephanie Demar.

                            Stephanie Demar

                  1611 Hanover Dr. Arlington, TX 76014

                             (682) 221-4278

                           [email protected]

    A highly qualified Management and Customer Service Professional

     Summary of Qualifications
       Demonstrated leadership with a proven ability to develop 
     and administer instruction in a formal setting. Skilled in 
     innovative development and challenging others to promote 
     success in all areas of the workplace. Familiar with 
     organizing teams and managed a group of individuals daily 
     which played a significant role in the growth of the company. 
     Excellent customer service and communication skills.
     Experience
       Substitute Teacher, 9/2010-Present, Arlington ISD, 
           Arlington, TX
       Supervised student learning according to the goals and 
     direction of the school and the district
       Phlebotomist I & II, 6/2004-4/2008, Carter Blood Care, 
           Bedford, TX
       Collected timed specimen from patients; keep lab area neat 
     and clean while following all safety rules. Managed a team of 
     fifteen employees for two years that established many 
     successful blood drives
     Education
       BA in Social Science with Education Concentration, 5/2008-
           11/2010, Ashford University, Clinton, IA, GPA: 3.85
       Courses Taken Include:
       Adult Development & Life Assessment--Provided knowledge of 
     adult development and theoretical concepts of personal and 
     professional learning while improving self-concept.
       Contemporary Social Problems--Focused mainly on problems 
     with racism, sexism, drug and alcohol abuse in society while 
     being

[[Page 3180]]

     informed of contemporary problems in the workplace.
       Social Psychology--Determined how thoughts, feelings and 
     behavior has a huge impact on everyday living as well as how 
     others are influenced by them in many different social 
     situations.
     Acknowledgements
       President's Award, May 2009.
       Dean's List, September 2008-November 2010.
       Magna cum laude Graduate, November 2010.
       Perfect Attendance, May 2008-November 2010.

                          ____________________